Truss.



T. H. STANLEY.

v muss. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1907.

Patented Nov. 16, 1909'i man sraWEN QFFICE.

THOMAS E. STANLEY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

Patented Nov. 16, i909.

TRUSS.

94@,622. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 19, 1907. Serial No. 402,908.

To all whom tt' may concern:

Be it known that T, THoims H. STANLEY,

- a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver' and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses; and T do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trusses for the treatment of rupture or hernia.

My improved truss has a number of novel features. The pad is formed of pitch pine. This is a very important feature. The pitch' with which the wood is impregnated, is drawn out by the heat to which it is subjected when in contact with the body of the wearer. This pitch has healing properties which are highly valuable in a device of this character. In addition to the healing power incident to the exuding of the pitch from the wood when in contact with the body of the wearer, this substance also causes the pad to adhere to the body whereby` it is prevented from slipping or moving out of place under circumstances which would tend to produce such result, as when the body is wet or damp from perspiration, or when the patient assumes positions that would have a tendency to cause the pad to move. Vifhen the pad is first put in use it 'should have a thin covering of leather since at such time the pitch will exude too freely from the wood. The leather covering prevents any disagreeable results in the early stages of the use of the pad. After a short time, however, the leather is removed and the wood brought in direct contact with the body. At this time the pad has a thin exterior coating of pitch.

Another novel feature of the device consists in the construction whereby the extremity of the belt adjacent that upon which the pad or pads are mounted, is allowed a limited vertical movement or play whereby the belt is allowed to accommodate itself to certain movements of the bodyy without disturbing the adjacent extremity upon which the pad or pads are mounted. Tn addition to these features, the depending fastening straps are mounted to permit adjustment longitudinally of the belt, each strap being also provided with a flexible key for securing the strap extremity in the desired position of adjustment. Moreover the opposite extremities of these straps are pivotally connected with the belt whereby they are allowed to swing, thus affording the wearer additional ease and comfort.

Having briefly outlined some of the novel features of my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

ln this drawing, Figure l' is a perspective view of my improved truss shown with two pads or equipped for the treatment of double hernia. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear View of the belt. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3% Fig. l showing the pad covered with leather. Fig. Ll is a similar view showing the pad with the leather removed. lfig. 5 a section taken on the line Fig. 2, the parts being shown on a larger scale.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a leather belt, one extremity of which is provided with a strap G which is secured to the outside of that portion of the belt upon which the pads 7 are mounted. The pads are secured to the belt by passing screws S through the straps 6, and the belt, the said screws penetrating the pads. These screws are centrally located and permit the rotary adjustment of the pads. Then the pads are properly positioned, fastening screws 9 are passed through the belt into the pads, whereby the latter are locked against movement upon the axes of the screws 8. The strap 6 extends beyond the pad extremity of the belt and is reduced in width as shown at l0. This reduced part of the strap passes through a loop 12 of such length as to allow the extremity of the belt carrying loop, a limited transverse movement on the strap without disturbing the adjacent extremity of the belt upon which the pads are mounted. The strap 10 is connected with a buckle 13 with which the belt is provided, the said buckle being located a sufficient distance from the loop as a large proportion of what is ordinarily termed pitch. This is indicated by the dark streaks 14 shown in Figs. 3 and 11. It is well known that the pitch exudes from this wood under the influence of heat. Tt has been found that the heat of the body is sufficient to produce this result when a truss is worn with a pad of this material. As heretofore stated, the pad should be originally provided with a covering 15 of leather which protects the body from a too great quantity of pitch when the pad is rst put in use. After a short time, however, this covering may be removed, in which event the pad has the appearance illustrated in Fig. 11.

Between the belt 5 and the outer strap (3, where each pad is located, a fastening strap 1G is secured by means of the screw 8. This screw is so adjusted as to allow the strap 1G to turn thereon thus allowing` the fastening strap an important movement in a construction of this character. The opposite extremity of each strap 16 is connected with a buckle 17 which is made fast to a double strap member 18 slidably mounted upon an auxiliary strap 19 which is secured at its extremities to the belt as shown at 20, the strap 19 intermediate its extremities being free from the belt to allow the member 18 to slide freely thereon. The member 18 as well as the strap 19 is provided with openings through which a flexible key or leather tongue 21 may be passed when the proper adjustment has been made. This flexible key is made fast to the buckle holder 18 as shown at 22. The free extremity of the strap 1G after being connected with the buckle is passed through a loop L8 made fast to the buckle holder 18.

From the foregoing description the use of my improved truss will be readily understood. The belt is of course passed around the body and the pads 7 in the case of a double hernia properly adjusted to cover the ruptured portions of the abdominal wall.

After the pads are turned on the screws 8 as an axis until they are properly positioned, the loekinO' screws 9 are applied thus securing the pads against further axial movement. The strap 10 is of course adjusted in connection with the buckle 15 so that the belt shall be as tight as desirable. The straps 16 are then adjusted in the rear in the manner heretofore explained after which the flexible key or tongue 21 is employed to lock the rear extremities of the straps in the adjusted position. `When properly adjusted the truss may be worn indefinitely without further attention.

lVhile in the drawing and heretofore in the description, I have described a truss having two pads for the treatment of double hernia, it is evident that my improvements are equally applicable to a truss having a single pad, as an additional pad is mere duplication.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a truss, the combination of a belt provided with a pad, a screw for securing the belt to the pad, and a fastening strap attached to the belt by the said screw in such a manner that the strap is movable on the screw, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a belt provided with a pad, of a fastening strap attached to the belt in front, a buckle slidably mounted upon an auxiliary strap attached to the belt in the rear to permit a movement longitudinally of the belt, a flexible key attached to the buckle holder and adapted to be passed through openings formed in the buckle holder and the strap upon which the latter is mounted.

In testimony whereof I my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. STANLEY. lVitnesses DENA iTELsoN, Jiissm HoBAR'r. 

